ALTERNATE REALITY, serving Chicago comic fandom since 1978  That's over 40 years of service!                                                                                                    We started at the Comicbook Emporium in February of 1978, Five & Dime Comics from 1983 to 1994 and Alternate Reality ever since, thats over 40 years of serving Chicago South Side Comic Fandom                                                                   SAVINGS! SERVICE! SELECTION! HISTORY! We have it all!

 
Who reviewed what below?
After each review quote you'll see the initials of the critic who wrote it (and that review).. Here's your key to Who's Who:
AS=Andrew Schumann
BO=Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
BT=Vittorio "Big Tuna" Carli
DS="Sweet" Dan Sweet
DK = Deanna "Dee Kay" Bihlmayer
JR = Jim "Good Old JR" Rutkowski

The opinions expressed in the reviews below are not necessarily those of Alternate Reality, Inc.

BOOK OF
THE WEEK!

GO TO ALL OF THESE DECEMBER 2011 COMIC REVIEWS

  AVENGERS ACADEMY #23
"Tom Raney and Christos Gage have clearly separated themselves from the pack with this latest issue..." (DS)
 

UNCANNY X-FORCE #18

“Remender dodges a bullet by making each of these tried-and-true tricks of the trade seem less tired...”  (DS)

-MISC-

 

MI: GHOST PROTOCOL

"...a genuine spectacle with set-pieces that will knock even the most jaded viewers for a loop or two." (JR)
  BATMAN YEAR ONE DVD
"... adapts Miller's tale with excellent animation and first-rate voice work-finding a nice balance..."  (JR)

BOOK OF
THE WEEK!

  BOOK OF THE MONTH: ADAM & EVE BIZARRE LOVE TRIANGLE IN THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
"Volume One ends in a cliff-hanger and although I was disappointed with some parts of the story and art I would say overall the book was “well done”  (DK)
 

-MISC-

 

ROH HOUSE SHOW 111911

"Ring of Honor-definitely have guys who draw people in with their in ring abilities..." (AS)
  WONDER WOMAN UNAIRED PILOT
"Kelley boils down superheroes to a shriveled core of violence, arrogance and meanness..."  (JR)

BOOK OF
THE WEEK!

-MISC-

 
  55 BEST COMICBOOK SONGS
"This song is about an alien sighting, and it examines the idea of Superman as an American symbol..."  (BT)

BOOK OF
THE WEEK!

  BOOK OF THE MONTH: DAMAGED #1
"The book looks pretty, as pretty as snapshots of some wannabe film can be. Leonardo Manco and Lapham attempt to turn a turd into a diamond, but there’s just not enough intensity, enough meaning for this fan"  (DS)
 
 

GO TO ALL OF THESE AUGUST 2011 COMIC REVIEWS

 
  ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #1
"‘...the first issue of this newest relaunch put this series in a much darker place..." (AS)
  AMAZING SPIDERMAN #667
"...check out the first issue of “Spider-Island”, but only if you want to have a good time reading comics..." (DS)
  PUNISHER #1
"‘Rucka's Punisher is a force of nature, a beast from the depths of hell sent to drag back those who seek to do evil...." (DS)

-MISC-

  RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
"...the best “Apes” film to come along since the first one, it is one of the better block-busters to come along in a while."  (JR)
  RING OF HONOR TV TAPING 081311
"The title matches just delivered with the time allotted for them."  (AS)

BOOK OF
THE WEEK!

  BOOK OF THE MONTH: DEVIL'S ISLAND
“Hickman’s story is phenomenal, but I don’t think it would be as emotionally arresting if illustrated by anyone else.”  (DS)

GO TO ALL OF THESE JULY 2011 COMIC REVIEWS

  SERGIO ARAGONES FUNNIES #1
"It is jammed pack with fun, and even teaches a little history along the way." (DK)
  DAREDEVIL #1
"It’s great to see that this isn’t a reboot, but more of a directional shift in what to expect from DD in the future." (DS)
  AMAZING SPIDERMAN #666
"The idea of EVERYONE on the island of Manhattan developing spider-power is mind-blowingly simple...." (DS)
  MISSION #6
"There’s a great amount of this book that is just vague and mysterious, but it works...." (DS)
 

-MOVIES-

  HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2
"...a stirring, magnificent conclusion to a marathon wizarding odyssey." (JR)
  CAPTAIN AMERICA:1ST AVENGER
"...director Joe Johnston’s Captain America is a breath of fresh air..."  (JR)

BOOK OF
THE WEEK!

-MOVIES-

  GREEN LANTERN EMERALD KNIGHTS DVD
"...another solid feature from Bruce Timm and Warner Bros. Animation" (JR)
  SUPER 8
"...a delightful, touching and engrossing coming-of-age story that just happens to have a rampaging monster in it." (JR)
  GREEN LANTERN
"It's clear that “Green Lantern” is a film made by committee instead of allowing the director to do his job." (JR)
  X-MEN FIRST CLASS
"...a thrilling, exciting and hugely entertaining work that both fanboys & newbies will enjoy..." (JR)

BOOK OF
THE WEEK!

-MOVIES-

  MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
"...deeply satisfying and charming from start to finish. This is my favorite film of the year so far." (JR)
  THOR
"...stands completely on its own as its own movie and proves to be an excellent addition to the superhero genre." ." (JR)

BOOK OF
THE WEEK!

  2011 OSCAR PREDICTIONS
The 2011 Academy Awards just happened but our two media opinion makers "BO" & "JR" logged in their predictions just before Oscar Night (022711). How close were they? Find out here!

GO TO ALL OF THESE MARCH 2011 COMIC REVIEWS

 
  SOULFIRE VOL3 #0
"...IF ever there was a reason to bear this sort of maligned pish-posh of mediocrity, it would be Jason Fabok" (DS)
  SAVAGE BEAUTY #1
"There's a twist up the writer's sleeve, one that is bound to shock, but not necessarily satisfy readers." (DS)
  HELLRAISER #1
"... I gave it a shot and it didn’t leap out of the void and drag me into its story." (DS)
  FF #1
"...this book has crept up my reading list each week until it’s found its rightful place at the top" (DS)
  UNCANNY X-FORCE #5.1
"... I can’t knock Albuquerque’s amazing abilities and all that he brings to the table, that’s for sure." (DS)
  XOMBI #1
"...a beautiful, memorable thing, one we don’t see nearly enough of in this industry lately." (DS)
  FEAR ITSELF BOOK OF SKULL
"... this is, at best, a filler issue with little to offer readers that are on the fence about the event." (DS)
  BATMAN #708
"‘I didn’t find the story to be entirely enjoyable, it was a thrill to turn each page and marvel in the artwork" (DS)
  MARVEL ZOMBIES SUPREME #1
"...somebody, anybody needs to put this title down, for good. Like, bullet-to-the-head-good." (DS)
  WOLVERINE HERCULES #1
"‘...a book I would typically label as ‘filler’ is actually quite gutsy; well done" (DS)
  5 RONIN #1
"‘...while I want to know what’s going on, I’m not sure I’m SOLD on the story." (DS)

-MOVIES-

 
  HANNA
"...exciting and strangely touching epic that is one of the few cinematic high point of the year to date." (JR)
  SOURCE CODE
"...fascinating insights into the human sense of the self."  (JR)
  RANGO
"...an exercise in cleverness, and that detachment robs the picture of the joy it craves." (JR)

-KIDZ CORNER REVIEWS-

  ARCHIE & FRIENDS #153
"This book is pure Reggie fun, with the whole high school gang..."  (DK)
 

VERONICA #205

“This is a great read, and I am happy to see that Archie Comics has decided to jump in with a gay high school character." (DK)

BOOK OF
THE WEEK!

  BOOK OF THE MONTH: FANTASTIC FOUR #587
“Hickman’s story is phenomenal, but I don’t think it would be as emotionally arresting if illustrated by anyone else.”  (DS)

GO TO ALL OF THESE FEBRUARY 2011 COMIC REVIEWS

  SILVER SURFER #1
"..can Pak make people relate to a silver-skinned alien who works for the devourer of worlds?! I’m leaning toward ‘No’" (DS)
  MISSION #1
"...an enthralling read capable of calling into question just how far one would be willing to go for their God" (DS)
  CHARISMAGIC #0
"...attempts to goad readers into giving the series a shot without entirely knowing why." (DS)
  ASTONISHING X-MEN #36
"Jason Pearson is an extremely under-utilized talent. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve seen from him" (DS)
  CINDERELLA FABLES ARE FOREVER #1
"Cindy as a truly likable character without imbuing her tale with atypical stereotypes and clichés." (DS)
  FANTASTIC FOUR #588
"...I may have found what amounts to be the most perfect comic-reading experience I’ve had in a long, LONG time" (DS)
  POWERMAN & IRON FIST #1
"When Van Lente's able to operate outside of Marvel’s creative bubble, his comics are worth buying-every time." (DS)
  JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #54
"...the book isn’t without its faults, but they’re much more manageable," (DS)
  HAWKEYE BLIND SPOT #1
",,,if you’re a fan of Hawkeye’s days in “Thunderbolts”, you should be pretty stoked for what you find in here" (DS)
  DC UNIVERSE ON-LINE LEGENDS #1
"This book has no soul." (DS)
  WOLVERINE #5.1
",,,one of the only characters in all of comics that gets cooler the older you make him" (DS)
  ULTIMATE AVENGERS/NEW ULTIMATES #1
"‘In your face’ doesn’t really begin to describe the attitude" (DS)

-MOVIES-

  ALL STAR SUPERMAN DVD
"This is the intelligence upgrade that superhero cinema drastically needs." (JR)
  SUPERMAN SHAZAM DVD
"There is just enough substance between the fistcuffs to make it a worthwhile endeavor." (JR)

-KIDZ CORNER REVIEWS-

  BART SIMPSON #58
"This book is fun for anyone from 6-60 and is highly recommended." (DK)
 

YOUNG JUSTICE #1

“...lacking in plot and quite frankly, is boring and makes no sense" (DK)
  SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS #1
"Bongo Comics has done a great job with this premier issue for the younger set." (DK)
 

SUPERHERO SQUAD SPECTACULAR #1

“...well worth picking up for your kids or even just for yourself, it is a great read" (DK)

-WRESTLING REVIEWS-

 
 

ROH HOUSE SHOW 022611

“Ring Of Honor truly are fearless when they let the main event be a tag team match." (AS)

BOOK OF
THE WEEK!

  10 BEST COMICS OF 2010
"Sweet" Dan Sweet checks into the Video Outhouse with his TOP TEN best comics of 2010!
  10 WORST COMICS OF 2010
"Sweet" Dan Sweet stays in the Video Outhouse with his picks for the TEN worst comics of 2010!
  JR'S 10 BEST FILMS OF 2010
"Good Old JR" Jim Rutkowski weighs in with his picks for the TOP 10 films of 2010

GO TO ALL OF THESE JANUARY 2011 COMIC REVIEWS

 
  SUPERGIRL #60
".. extremely effective first issue-that manages to keep readers on the edge of their seat" (DS)
  TWILIGHT GUARDIAN#1
"...falls flat due primarily to the fact that nostalgia is as much a driving force behind this title as creativity is. " (DS)
  INFESTATION #1
"I can’t even put into words how mindless this book was" (DS)
  WOLVERINE JUBILEE #1
"Without a doubt one of the best renditions of Wolverine in the current comics market place" (DS)
  AGE OF X ALPHA #1
"What DOESN’T happen is anything noteworthy, and THAT is a HUGE problem for an ‘event’ book..." (DS)
  SPAWN #200
"...this issue only served to back up my assertion that I’ve outgrown this title" (DS)
  AVENGERS ACADEMY #8
"...a one-and-done that goes to show just what one generation of heroes has to share with the next...." (DS)
  AMAZING SPIDERMAN #652
"What I got was MORE than I bargained for, as Slott and company manage to heat things up..." (DS)
  DAREDEVIL REBORN #1
"...this is a somewhat-refreshing change of pace, but I’m reminded of the old adage, ‘If it ain’t broke..." (DS)
  ULTIMATE CAPTAIN AMERICA #1
"...a rich viewing experience, almost motion picture-like in its momentum. This is a series to watch!" (DS)
  WONDER GIRL #1
"I’m always wary of a story that offers no substance, and this is one of those stories." (DS)
  STEEL #1
"Make no mistake; this is an editorially mandated piece of trash." (DS)
  SHAZAM! #1
"...one of the most nauseating examples of textbook, paint-by-numbers, comic book storytelling..." (DS)

-MOVIES-

 
 

GREEN HORNET

"...simplistic, condescending, bloated, overly jokey, and assumes it has a built in audience that is easily pleased."  (JR)

-KIDZ CORNER REVIEWS-

  SPIDERMAN #10
"I am not a Spider-Man admirer, but I did enjoy this story line quite a bit"  (DK)
 

YOUNG JUSTICE #0

“...watching the series probably would be helpful with the story line of the book..." (DK)
  THOR MIGHTY AVENGER #8
"If you have already read issue #1-7 you will be pleased with how this series finishes off."  (DK)
 

MEGAMIND #1

“The Megamind character is a very likable and all three stories are a fun read." (DK)
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